Method for enhancing the detection of contamination in a cellular blood product by covalently binding a hydrophilic polymer to the cell membrane

ABSTRACT

A method for preventing bacterial biofilm formation in a blood product, the method comprising modifying a blood product with a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG derivatives and mixtures thereof. Preventing bacterial biofilm formation in this way increases the planktonic to adherent ratio of any contaminating bacteria, and thereby facilitates detection of bacterial contamination.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/871,553, filed Dec. 22, 2006, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to blood products and methods of preventing bacterial biofilm formation therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bacterial contamination of blood products and transfusion-transmitted sepsis are two of the most important and critical untoward events in the collection, processing, storage, and infusion of blood. Great care must therefore be taken when collecting and processing blood donations in order to ensure that transfusable products are safe, and strict screening practices are employed.

Despite these preventative measures, however, bacterial contamination continues to pose a problem in transfusion medicine. For instance, the coagulase negative species Staphylococcus epidermidis is frequently implicated in severe transfusion reactions. This bacterium is known to be an important opportunistic pathogen in clinical settings due to its propensity to bind to biomedical devices, forming surface-attached communities of microorganisms known as biofilms.

Biofilm formation is a known concern in the field of medical devices, and may also contribute to undetected bacterial contamination of stored blood products. As the bacterial contaminants in the biofilm are adherent rather than planktonic, they will be difficult to detect by commonly employed methods. This is a particularly important consideration for stored blood components such as platelets.

Platelets must be stored at or above room temperature to preserve viability, conditions which allow for bacterial growth. For this reason, bacterial contamination of platelets is the most prevalent infectious risk in transfusion medicine.

Despite implementation of leukoreduction (removal of white blood cells), improved skin disinfection methods, a diversion pouch, and bacterial screening, contaminated platelet units still continue to be transfused.

Certain pathogen inactivation technologies have been developed which aim to replace the need for pre-transfusion bacterial screening. Among these, the INTERCEPT Blood System (Cerus Corp.) has completed Phase III clinical trials. This system uses amotosalen HCl, which binds to nucleic acids upon ultraviolet light (UVA) irradiation, inhibiting bacterial growth in platelets. Although this system is active against a broad variety of bacteria, it has been unsuccessful at disruption of Bacillus cereus spores and complete elimination of high loads of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae. Perhaps more importantly, the INTERCEPT Blood System has not been tested for the prevention and/or elimination of bacterial biofilms, which are known to be resistant to the action of antimicrobials and disinfectants.

Despite the best practices employed within the blood system and the antibacterial technologies available to prevent contamination, bacterially-contaminated blood products still escape detection, and this still constitutes the highest post-transfusion infectious risk as exemplified by recent reports of severe and fatal reactions. Contamination cannot be avoided completely and current testing methods do not achieve 100% sensitivity.

Thus, there is a need for improved methods of preventing bacterial contamination in transfusable blood products, and especially blood products such as platelets which cannot be stored at low temperatures to curtail bacterial growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is accordingly to provide a method for preventing bacterial biofilm formation in blood products, and thereby increase the ability to detect bacterial contamination therein.

As an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for preventing or reducing bacterial biofilm formation in a blood product, the method comprising:

-   -   obtaining a blood product, and     -   modifying the blood product with a hydrophilic polymer in an         amount sufficient to prevent or reduce bacterial biofilm         formation.

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for preventing bacterial biofilm formation in a blood product, the method comprising modifying a blood product with a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG derivatives and mixtures thereof.

In another aspect, there is further provided a method for enhancing detection of bacterial contamination in a blood product, the method comprising:

-   -   obtaining a blood product, and     -   modifying the blood product with a hydrophilic polymer in an         amount sufficient to prevent or reduce bacterial biofilm         formation.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a method for preventing or reducing bacterial biofilm formation in vivo in an individual having a foreign implanted material, said method comprising:

-   -   obtaining a blood product modified with an effective amount of a         hydrophilic polymer, and     -   transfusing said patient with said modified blood product in an         amount sufficient to prevent or reduce bacterial biofilm         formation on said foreign implanted material.

In an embodiment, the polymer is covalently bonded to the membrane of a cell, e.g. a blood cell, in the blood product. In a further embodiment, the cell(s) are modified with at least one polymerated chemical, each polymerated chemical either comprising the polymer covalently bonded directly to the membrane of the cell(s), or comprising the polymer and a linker molecule such that the linker molecule is covalently bonded to the membrane of the cells and the polymer is covalently attached to the linker molecule.

The cell, e.g. blood cell, may be any cell susceptible of plasma membrane modification, such as erythrocytes, platelets, and leukocytes, and may further comprise stem cells.

In an embodiment, the method comprises, prior to modifying the blood product, preparing the blood product from a whole blood donation, whereby at least a portion of the blood product is modified in the modification step with at least one polymerated chemical, each polymerated chemical either comprising the polymer and being covalently bonded directly to the membrane of a blood cell, or comprising said polymer and a linker molecule such that the linker molecule is covalently bonded to the membrane of the cell and the polymer is covalently attached to the linker molecule.

In an embodiment, the blood product is selected from whole blood-derived platelet rich plasma (PRP) platelets, whole blood-derived buffy coat platelets, apheresis platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, whole blood, or stem cells. In a preferred embodiment, the blood product comprises platelets selected from whole blood-derived platelet rich plasma (PRP) platelets, whole blood-derived buffy coat platelets and apheresis platelets, at least a portion of the platelets being modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or one or more PEG derivative.

In an embodiment, the modified blood product is prepared directly in the blood product receptacle.

In an embodiment, the modified blood product is prepared and subsequently added to an unmodified blood product.

In an embodiment, the blood product is modified by addition of PEG and/or a PEG derivative to said blood product. The concentration of the PEG and/or PEG derivative is, in an embodiment, between about 0.2 mM and 100 mM. In a preferred embodiment, the concentration of the PEG and/or PEG derivative is between about 2 mM and 10 mM. In a further preferred embodiment, the concentration of the PEG and/or PEG derivative is about 10 mM.

In an embodiment, any one or more of blood cells, contaminating bacteria, interior surfaces of the blood product receptacle, and proteins are modified by addition of the PEG and/or PEG derivative to the blood product.

In an embodiment of the method for preventing or reducing bacterial biofilm formation in vivo in an individual, the individual may be a human or an animal. In a preferred embodiment, PEGylated platelets are used for the prevention of biofilms in vivo. In a further embodiment, the individual is a patient having a stent or other device having a foreign surface and implanted or otherwise used to support patients (e.g., infusion sets, extracorporeal circuits etc.). In such an embodiment, the PEGylated platelets prevent biofilm formation since they will not adhere to the foreign surface of the implanted material, and in the absence of adhering platelets bacterial attachment to that surface does not occur.

As used herein, a foreign implanted material may include any material implanted in an animal or human, in whole or in part, and having a surface on which bacterial biofilms may form. This may include stents, infusion sets, extracorporeal circuits and catheters, synthetic prosthetic grafts, as well as implants such as breast implants, dental implants, coronary implants, orthopaedic implants, including devices that are placed over or within bones to assist in fracture repair as well as replacements of part or whole of defunct joints, or other medical devices made to replace and act as a missing biological structure. A foreign implanted material may also include implantable devices containing electronics such as artificial pacemakers and cochlear implants, as well as bioactive implants such as drug delivery devices (e.g. subcutaneous implants). The surface of the implanted material may comprise an artificial or natural surface including any acceptable implantable material, such as titanium, silicone, polymeric coatings or other materials depending on what is the most functional. A “foreign” surface can therefore either be an artificial or a natural surface, and may be typical of any material or device implanted in an animal or human.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic comparison of the prior art with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which blood bags containing (A) platelets prepared according to known methods and (B) platelets prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention are depicted. As shown, the blood bag containing unmodified platelets allows bacterial biofilm formation on the blood bag surface (A); whereas the blood bag containing modified (PEGylated) platelets prevents biofilm formation (B).

FIG. 2 shows SEM micrographs at 10 um (A) and 2 um (B) resolution of a bacterial biofilm formed on a PVC blood bag surface containing unmodified platelets. As illustrated in (B), platelets form mixed aggregates with bacteria, enhancing biofilm formation.

FIG. 3 shows microscopic images of unmodified platelets (A,B) and PEGylated platelets (C). FIGS. 3A and 3C are at 10 um resolution, and FIG. 3B is at 20 um resolution. Platelet microaggregates are observed in the unmodified platelets (as depicted by *) but not in the PEGylated platelets.

FIG. 4 is a graphic representation illustrating a dose-dependent inhibition of cell-cell interactions and complex microaggregates (aggregation index) in RBC's by PEGylation (0%-100% PEGylation of RBCs).

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a surface-modified blood cell, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of preparing and using modified blood products, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graphic representation illustrating biofilm formation of S. epidermidis (ATCC 12228 and ATCC 35984) in PEGylated (PEG) and non-PEGylated (nonPEG) platelets. Biofilm formation was quantified by microplate reading of crystal violet stain intensity (absorbance at 492 nm). Bars reflect the mean+SD for four independent experiments (6 readings per microplate well; duplicate wells performed per experiment) in platelets [diluted 50:50 in either mPEG buffer (nonPEG) or 0.1 g/ml mPEG (PEG)]. Biofilm formation is considered for A492 values above the cut-off (˜0.08).

FIG. 8 shows Scanning Electron Micrographs of (A) non-PEGylated and (B) PEGylated platelets both deliberately contaminated with biofilm-forming S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 after 5 days of incubation under platelet storage conditions. (A) Bacteria clusters, bacteria associated with platelets (arrows), and activated platelets are predominant. (B) Although a few bacteria-platelet associations are observed (arrow), PEGylation decreased platelet-platelet and platelet-bacteria interactions. Both images have the same magnification and are representative of the majority of the fields analyzed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Recent reports of transfusion-associated septic events due to bacterial contamination of platelets and other blood products indicate that bacterially-contaminated units still escape detection. Estimates obtained after implementation of bacterial screening of platelets in North America indicate that one in 3000-5000 platelet units are contaminated with bacteria with a risk of approximately 1 in 100,000 transfusion-associated septic reactions. Approximately 4 million platelet transfusions are done annually (2004) in North America.

This problem is most obvious with platelets due to their requirement for storage at temperatures which promote bacterial growth, typically about 22±2° C. While red blood cells (RBC) are stored at 4° C., temperature fluctuation and prolonged storage (up to 42 days) can also provide an opportunity for bacterial biofilm formation.

Previous efforts have been focused on the detection and reduction of platelet contamination. It is recognized, however, that contamination cannot be avoided completely and that current testing methods do not achieve 100% sensitivity.

The present invention provides an alternate approach to the contamination problem through modification of the blood product with a hydrophilic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (“PEG”) or derivatives thereof such as methoxypolyethylene glycol (“mPEG”). The modified blood product is formed by covalent attachment of the hydrophilic polymer to blood product surfaces, such as the plasma membrane of a particular blood cell type, or combination of blood cell types, plasma membranes or the cell walls of contaminating bacteria, protein aggregates, and/or the interior surface of the blood product receptacle (e.g. blood bags). In an embodiment, the blood cells are surface-modified with the hydrophilic polymer such that they become enveloped within a hydrophilic layer of the polymer. As is demonstrated below, surface modification with PEG or a PEG-derivative blocks cell-cell interactions (blood cell-blood cell; blood cell-bacterial cell) and weakens complex aggregate formation. Biofilm formation requires both cell-cell interaction and complex aggregate formation, and thus PEGylation of the blood products significantly reduces biofilm formation therein.

Blood cells, in accordance with the present invention, include any blood cells that comprise a plasma membrane allowing surface modification with PEG or PEG-derivatives, such as red corpuscles (erythrocytes, or RBCs), platelets (thrombocytes), and the five types of white corpuscles (leukocytes, or WBCs) known as neurophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Blood products in accordance with the invention may comprise any of these cellular components, alone or in combination, surface modified with covalently bound PEG or a PEG derivative.

Blood products, as referred to herein, may include platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, stem cells and/or whole blood.

In an embodiment, the modified blood product comprises surface modified platelets, with PEG moieties covalently bound to the plasma membrane thereof. PEGylation decreases the initial platelet adhesion to the surface of platelet bags, which may serve as an initiation event for adhesion of contaminating bacteria to the blood bag surface, thereby reducing or preventing bacterial biofilm formation.

Consequent to inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation, e.g. on blood bag surfaces, detection of bacterial contamination in the modified blood product is enhanced due to reduced sampling error. Particularly, bacteria contained within biofilms are harder to detect than bacteria in suspension, and thus any bacterial contamination in a modified blood product prepared in accordance with the invention will be easier to detect, for instance via direct sampling of the product or using dynamic light scattering.

Due to the enhanced ability to detect bacterial contamination afforded through the inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation, modified blood products prepared in accordance with the present invention will be safer to use.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a possible application of the present invention, taken in comparison to the prior art. In particular, normal biofilm formation in a platelet blood bag is shown in FIG. 1A. As shown, the biofilm consists of both bacteria and platelets (as well as bacterially derived and plasma derived proteins). PEGylation of platelets in accordance with the invention (FIG. 1B), however, reduces/prevents initial platelet binding to the blood bag wall, thereby reducing points of attachment for contaminating bacteria to bind to the bag surface and initiate biofilm formation. Consequent to PEGylation, bacterial detection is facilitated due to the presence of planktonic versus adherent bacteria. Enhanced detection of bacterial contaminants results in improved safety.

The present inventors have demonstrated biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis under typical platelet storage conditions. As shown in the scanning electron micrographs of FIG. 2, the bacteria adhere to the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) platelet bags (FIG. 2A) and with platelets (FIG. 2B), adhering to platelet aggregates.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to the plastic of platelet bags was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Overnight cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis were diluted to an OD₆₀₀=0.1 in 60 mL of trypticase soy broth supplemented with 0.5% glucose (TSBg). The diluted cultures were injected into CLX platelet storage bags which were pre-conditioned with platelet preparations. Specifically, bags were incubated with PRP platelets for at least 24 hours and drained completely prior to the injection of the Staphylococcus epidermidis cultures. The bags were incubated at room temperature and after 6 days, they were drained and washed once with 60 mL of sterile, distilled water to remove nonadherent cells. Plastic coupons measuring approximately 1 cm² were cut from the bags using sterile scissors, fixed with osmium tetroxide (OsO₄) and vapour dried. The dried samples were mounted on 13 mm aluminum stubs and examined in a Philips XL30 ESEM (Eindhoven, Netherlands) scanning electron microscope.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the interactions of Staphylococcus epidermidis with platelets were examined by SEM. PRP platelets were inoculated with bacteria diluted to an OD₆₀₀=0.1 and incubated in 6-well tissue culture plates for 3 to 5 days. At this time, the liquid, which contained visible, suspended aggregates, was collected. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation, washed with PBS pH 7.4, fixed in a paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde solution, dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, and critical-point dried. The dried samples were mounted on 13 mm aluminum stubs and examined in a Philips XL30 ESEM (Eindhoven, Netherlands) scanning electron microscope.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the inventors have demonstrated that platelets form microaggregates (FIG. 3A, 3B) having enhanced adhesive properties, thus allowing for interaction with the blood bag surface. PEGylation in accordance with the invention prevents platelet microaggregation (FIG. 3C), and inhibits interaction with the blood bag surface. Since microaggregation of the platelets facilitates bacterial interaction and the formation of bacterial biofilms, PEGylation of platelets reduces biofilm formation. Due to the resulting dispersion of bacteria throughout the platelet bag, detection of bacterial contamination, for instance by sampling or other detection means such as dynamic light scattering, is enhanced.

In the examples shown in FIG. 3, paraformaldehyde (2% final concentration) was added to platelets in platelet rich plasma (PRP). PEGylated platelets were modified with 10 mM mPEG-BTC (5000 Da molecular weight) to form platelets modified with an exemplary PEG derivative. This exemplary embodiment demonstrates that modified blood cells such as platelets do not form microaggregates.

FIG. 4 further demonstrates the ability of blood product PEGylation to prevent the cell-cell interaction underlying biofilm formation. As shown, when red blood cells (RBCs) are exposed to a blood typing antibody, RBC microaggregates form. When these normal RBC are mixed with PEGylated RBC, microaggregate formation is reduced in a concentration dependent manner due to impaired cell-cell interaction. Similarly, these PEGylated RBC impair the structural (adhesive) integrity of a biofilm, thereby reducing its formation and/or stability. An underlying mechanism to this finding is accordingly the blocking of cell-cell interaction and weakening of complex aggregate formation. Biofilm formation requires both cell-cell interaction and complex aggregate formation. Inclusion of PEGylated blood products in a forming biofilm significantly reduces its structural stability.

Similar results (not shown) have been obtained using other blood component models which establish that WBC-WBC interaction and WBC-RBC interaction can be disrupted by PEGylation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited in scope to PEGylation of platelets but can instead be applied to all blood products for which bacterial contamination is a concern.

The invention will now be described in further detail below, having regard to the schematic representation in FIG. 5 of an exemplary surface-modified blood cell prepared in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The surface-modified blood cell 60 comprises a blood cell 56 and at least one polymerated chemical 59. In one embodiment, the at least one polymerated chemical 59 consists of a plurality of polymerated chemicals 59. The blood cell 56 includes a blood cell core 47 and a blood cell membrane 48 that surrounds the blood cell core 47. Each polymerated chemical 59 is covalently bonded to the blood cell membrane 48 of the blood cell 56. More specifically, in one embodiment, each polymerated chemical 59 comprises a linker molecule 61 and a polymer 62, wherein the polymer 62 is covalently attached to the linker molecule 61 and the linker molecule 61 is covalently bonded to the blood cell membrane 48 at a bonding site (e.g., at a protein or at a carbohydrate) of the blood cell membrane 48. The linker molecule serves to activate the covalent linkage of the polymer 62 to the blood cell 56 at the blood cell membrane 48.

In an alternative embodiment, a polymerated chemical 89 comprises a polymer 82 covalently bonded directly to the blood cell membrane 48 at a bonding site (e.g., at a protein or at a carbohydrate) of the blood cell membrane 48. The polymerated chemical 89 is analogous to the polymerated chemical 59 and the polymer 82 is analogous to the polymer 62, except that the polymerated chemical 89 does not comprise a linker molecule. Although the discussion infra describes the present invention for the embodiment of the polymerated chemical 59 that comprises the linker molecule 61 and the polymer 62, it should be understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise inapplicable, said discussion infra applies likewise to the alternative embodiment of the polymerated chemical 89 that comprises the polymer 82, wherein the polymer 82 is covalently bonded directly to the blood cell membrane 48.

The space defined by the at least one polymerated chemical 59 is an envelope 57 that envelopes the blood cell 56 due to a “long chain length” of each polymer 62 (i.e., a chain length that is sufficient magnitude to fill the space around itself). The envelope 57 prevents microaggregation of the blood cell 56. For example, small membrane protein 63 (such as CD9=p24) is covered by the envelope 57 and thus cannot bind corresponding ligands or receptors that facilitate microaggregation. As another example, a large, extended membrane protein 64 (such as CD42b=GPIb) can be partially covered by the envelope 57, reaching through the envelope 57, and still recognized and bound by proteins important for blood cell functionality.

The polymer 62 in each polymerated chemical 59 is independently selected from polymers including PEG and PEG derivatives. Polyethylene glycol has the formula H(OCH₂CH₂)_(n)OH, wherein n is greater than or equal to 4, with a molecular weight of up to about 20,000 Daltons. Various derivatives of polyethylene glycol may substitute for the H or OH end groups, forming, for example, polyethylene glycol ethers (e.g., PEG-O—R; PEG-O—CH₃; CH₃—PEG-OH); 2,4-dinitrophenyl ethers of PEG), polyethylene glycol esters (e.g., PEG-O₂C(CH₂)₁₄CH₃; PEG-O₂CCH₂CH₂CO₂-atropine), polyethylene glycol amides (e.g., PEG-O₂C(CH₂)₇CONHR; mPEG-O₂CCH₂CH₂CONH(CH₃)CHCH₂C₆H₅; PEG-O₂CCH₂CH₂CONHCH₂CH₂-NAD⁺), polyethylene glycol amines (e.g., PEG-NH₂; PEG-NH(CH₂)₆NH₂; PEG-OCH₂CH₂NH₂; mPEG-NH₂), polyethylene glycol acids (e.g., PEG-O₂C(CH₂)₂CO₂H; PEG-O—CH₂CO₂H; PEG-O₂C—(CH₂)₇—CO₂H), polyethylene glycol aldehydes (e.g., PEG-O—CH₂—CHO), and electrophilic derivatives (e.g., PEG-Br; PEG-OSO₂CH₃; PEG-O). Various phenyl moities can also be substituted for the H or OH of PEG, such as the 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether of PEG mentioned above. The particular polyethylene glycol derivatives listed above are exemplary only, and the invention is not intended to be limited to those particular examples.

The linker molecule 61 may comprise, inter alia, cyanuric chloride, imidazolyl formate, succinimidyl succinate, succinimidyl carbonate, succinimidyl glutarate, N-hydroxysuccinimide, 4-nitrophenol, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol. The linker molecules listed above are exemplary only, and the invention is not intended to be limited to those particular examples. Any linker molecule capable of covalently attaching to the polymer 62 and mediating the linkage of the polymer to the platelet membrane 48 may be similarly used.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of forming and using modified cellular blood components in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The flow chart of FIG. 6 comprises steps 31-34.

Step 31 prepares at least one blood product, using any known preparation method, such as, for example, whole blood-derived platelet rich plasma (PRP) platelets, whole blood-derived buffy coat platelets, apheresis platelets, whole blood-derived RBCs, whole blood-derived WBCs, whole blood, stem cells or mixtures thereof.

Step 32 forms the modified blood product from the blood product prepared in step 31. At least a portion of the cellular blood component(s) in the modified blood product conforms to the surface-modified blood cell 60 of FIG. 5 and comprises a blood cell and at least one polymerated chemical. Each polymerated chemical either comprises a polymer covalently bonded directly to the blood cell membrane, or comprises the polymer and a linker molecule such that the linker molecule is covalently bonded to the blood cell membrane and the polymer is covalently attached to the linker molecule. The polymer of each polymerated chemical of each modified cellular blood component is independently selected from polymers selected from PEG and PEG derivatives.

It should be understood that step 32 can be performed in varying embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, in an embodiment, the modified blood product may be formed directly in the blood product receptacle, e.g. blood bag, by adding the PEGylation reagents directly to the blood product prepared in step 31. In this situation, various components within the blood product will become PEGylated, including any contaminating bacteria, the interior surface of the blood product receptacle, the cellular components of the blood product, proteins in solution, etc. Alternatively, the modified blood product may be prepared separately per steps 31 and 32 and subsequently infused or otherwise added to a blood product for end use. A variety of other embodiments may also be envisioned which will be encompassed by the present invention.

In a further embodiment, a polymer of a polymerated chemical of a modified blood product consists of PEG. For example, the surface-modified blood cell 60 of FIG. 5 comprises at least one polymerated chemical, and the polymer of the polymerated chemical consists of PEG.

In another embodiment, a polymer of a polymerated chemical of a modified blood product consists of a PEG derivative. For example, the surface-modified blood cell 60 of FIG. 5 comprises at least one polymerated chemical, and the polymer of the polymerated chemical consists of a PEG derivative.

In yet another embodiment, a polymer of a polymerated chemical of a first surface-modified blood cell consists of a first PEG derivative, and a polymer of a polymerated chemical of either the first surface-modified blood cell or a second surface-modified blood cell consists of a second PEG derivative that differs from the first PEG derivative. The preceding embodiment is describing cases in which two different PEG derivatives (e.g., PEG-O—CH₃ and CH₃-PEG-OH) are present in a plurality of surface-modified blood cells, wherein the plurality of surface-modified blood cell comprise a first surface-modified blood cell and a second surface-modified blood cell. These two different PEG derivatives are denoted as a first PEG derivative and a second PEG derivative. In one case, both the first PEG derivative and the second PEG derivative are in the first surface-modified blood cell. In another case, the first PEG derivative is in the first surface-modified blood cell and the second PEG derivative is in the second surface-modified blood cell.

Step 33 is an optional step which may include storage of the modified blood product formed in step 32 under prescribed conditions, and may further comprise sampling of the modified blood product to test for bacterial contaminants, or contamination detection by other means such as dynamic light scattering.

Step 34 is a further optional step which introduces the modified blood product into a mammal, either immediately after step 32 or after having been stored as described in step 33. In one embodiment, the mammal is a human being. In one embodiment, the mammal is a non-human mammal (e.g., dog, cat, horse, rat, etc.).

The following methodology describes an example of one embodiment of the present invention, whereby modified platelets for use in accordance with the present invention are formed.

Platelet modification with PEG or PEG derivatives is done by mixing a concentration of platelets with chemically activated PEG or PEG derivatives. The concentration of platelets can range from very low counts to very high counts as required by the specific application; for clinical purposes, a single unit of platelet rich plasma (PRP) should contain at least 5.5×10¹⁰ platelets (see AABB Technical Manual, 12^(th) edition, 1996 American Association of Blood Banks, page 144). Activation of PEG or PEG derivatives is accomplished by chemically modifying one or both terminal reactive groups of PEG or PEG derivatives with a chemical reactive linker group of an associated linker molecule.

Multiple mixing methods can be used to achieve the desired platelet-PEG ratio. In one embodiment, whole blood is collected in ACD (acid citrate dextrose) anticoagulant. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from the whole blood by centrifugation (150×g for 12 minutes). Platelet numbers are determined using an automated cell counter. The PRP is mixed with the desired concentration of activated PEG or PEG-derivative using an automated mixing instrument so as to achieve a uniform platelet-PEG ratio. The platelet-PEG mixture is collected and allowed to react for 30 minutes at room temperature. Both the reaction time and temperature can be varied. For example, the reaction time could range from 1 minute to greater than 60 minutes. The reaction time is governed in part by the reactivity of the linker molecule as well as the desired efficiency of the reaction. The temperature should be greater than 20° C. to avoid cold induced injury prior to the protection afforded by the grafted PEG or PEG-derivative.

Following derivatization, the modified platelets can be used as is, or can undergo gentle washing and centrifugation in physiologic solutions (e.g., isotonic saline, ACD, or platelet additive solutions). In one embodiment of washing, modified platelets are washed using an excess of a washing buffer consisting of a 1:1 ratio of phosphate buffered saline and ACD at physiologic pH (pH 7-7.8). The platelet-wash solution is mixed gently (e.g., inverting the tube of platelet-wash solution several times) followed by centrifugation at 600 g for 3 minutes. Following washing, the wash supernatant is removed. Platelet counts are determined via automated cell counters and the platelets are resuspended to the desired modified platelet count per unit volume using physiologic solutions (e.g., plasma, saline, platelet additive solutions).

In other preparation embodiments, the source of platelets can be whole blood, leukoreduced whole blood, whole blood derived buffy coat platelets or apheresis platelets. Alternatively for non-clinical or veterinary use, a wide range of other platelet preparations (e.g., purified platelets obtained using magnetic bead technology, cell culture and expansion, or via cell sorter technology) can be similarly derivatized. Platelet concentration can also be significantly varied relative to the PEG or PEG-derivative concentration and/or physiologic media. Rather than platelets, the blood product may also be RBCs, WBCs, stem cells or whole blood prepared in accordance with preferred methods, which are themselves not part of the present invention.

Depending on the PEG/PEG derivative and the linker group used in the preceding methodology for forming modified platelets, either: (1) the associated linker molecule may remain part of the final structure of the polymerated chemical (as in the polymerated chemical 59 of FIG. 5; e.g., cyanuric chloride activated mPEG); or (2) the linker group may mediate the chemical reaction between PEG/PEG derivative and a protein of the platelet membrane but nonetheless function as a leaving group so that the associated linker molecule is not part of the final structure of the polymerated chemical (as in the polymerated chemical 89 of FIG. 5; e.g., benzotriazole carbonate activated mPEG).

Experiment: Prevention of Biofilm Formation by S. Epidermidis

Two 15-ml platelet samples obtained from the same platelet unit were injected into separate platelet storage bags. One sample was mixed with an equal volume of mPEG buffer (50 mM K₂HPO₄, 105 mM NaCl) and used as a non-PEGylated control and a second sample was mixed with an equal volume of 0.1 g/ml succinimidyl carbonate MPEG solution (SC-mPEG₅₀₀₀; prepared in mPEG buffer). Platelet bags were agitated at room temperature for ˜2 hours followed by sampling for inoculation with S. epidermidis. Biofilm formation assays for S. epidermidis grown in non-PEGylated and PEGylated platelets were performed in polystyrene culture plates as follows. Overnight cultures of S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 (biofilm positive) and ATCC 12228 (biofilm negative) were diluted to an OD₆₀₀=0.1 in Trypticase Soy Broth supplemented with 0.5% glucose (TSBg) and equivalent bacterial concentrations were added to PEGylated and non-PEGylated whole blood-derived platelets. Three-mL aliquots were transferred into the wells of 6-well tissue culture plates and incubated at room temperature on a platform platelet agitator for 5 days. On day 5, the cultures were assayed for biofilm formation. The samples were aspirated and the wells were rinsed gently 3 times with 3 mL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4. The wells were then stained with 0.3% crystal violet dye solution for 2 hours, rinsed with PBS as before, and the remaining crystal violet was eluted with 2 mL of an 80% ethanol: 20% acetone (vol/vol) mixture. From each well, 200 μL were transferred 6 times into a 96-well microtitre plate and absorbance values at a 492 nm wavelength (A492 nm) were measured. To correct for contribution of platelet and/or plastic staining to the measured absorbance values, wells containing non-inoculated PEGylated and non-PEGylated platelets were processed in the identical manner as the experimental samples and A492 nm readings from these control wells were subtracted from values measured for experimental wells to obtain a final set of adjusted absorbance values. As shown in FIG. 7, platelet PEGylation decreased S. epidermidis biofilm formation. Using scanning electron microscopy, a decrease in platelet-bacteria associations (aggregates) was observed in the inoculated PEGylated samples in comparison to non-PEGylated platelets (FIG. 8).

By limiting biofilm formation in blood products, the present invention will allow for improved detection of otherwise undetectable bacterial contaminants and ultimately lead to safer products for the blood system. As such, when combined with effective contamination prevention and detection practices, the present invention can potentially decrease the number of transfusions of bacterially-contaminated platelets and other blood products, thereby improving patient safety.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

1. A method for preventing or reducing bacterial biofilm formation and enhancing detection of a bacterial contamination in a blood product comprising a cellular component, said method comprising: obtaining a sample of said blood product, modifying said sample with a hydrophilic polymer by covalently binding the hydrophilic polymer to the membrane of the cellular component of said blood product to provide a modified sample of the blood product, and determining the presence of the bacterial contamination in the modified sample of the blood product.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG derivatives and mixtures thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the polyethylene glycol has the formula: H(OCH₂CH₂)_(n)OH wherein n is greater than or equal to 4, and wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of up to about 20,000 Daltons.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the PEG derivatives are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol ethers, 2,4-dinitrophenyl ethers of PEG, polyethylene glycol esters, polyethylene glycol amides, polyethylene glycol amines, polyethylene glycol acids, polyethylene glycol aldehydes, electrophilic derivatives of PEG, and PEG with phenyl moieties substituted for the terminal H and/or OH moieties of the PEG.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said cellular component is modified with at least one polymerated chemical, each polymerated chemical either comprising said hydrophilic polymer for binding covalently directly to the membrane of the cellular component, or comprising said hydrophilic polymer covalently attached to a linker molecule wherein the linker molecule is for binding covalently to the membrane of said cellular component.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining said sample comprises preparing a blood product comprising a cellular component from a whole blood donation.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the linker molecule is selected from the group consisting of cyanuric chloride, imidazolyl formate, succinimidyl succinate, succinimidyl carbonate, succinimidyl glutarate, N-hydroxysuccinimide, 4-nitrophenol, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said cellular component is selected from the group consisting of erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes, stem cells and contaminating bacterial cells.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood product comprising a cellular component is selected from the group consisting of whole blood-derived platelet rich plasma (PRP) platelets, whole blood-derived buffy coat platelets, apheresis platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, stem cells and whole blood.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood product comprising a cellular component comprises platelets selected from the group consisting of whole blood-derived platelet rich plasma (PRP) platelets, whole blood-derived buffy coat platelets and apheresis platelets, and wherein the hydrophilic polymer is polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or one or more PEG derivative. 